This video was posted a few days ago by SeaWorld San Diego. It shows a Giant Japanese Spider Crab moulting, a procedure that takes up to six hours.
The Japanese spider crab (タカアシガニ taka-ashi-gani, "long-legged crab") has the largest leg span of any arthropod, with some specimen reaching 3.8 metres across their outstretched legs. In order to reach such a size, the crabs need to moult frequently. They are native to the waters around Japan.
More info: Japanese Spider Crab
Below another video of a spider crab moulting, this time at the Enoshima Aquarium:
A smaller specimen we saw at the Kaiyukan in Osaka.
The Japanese spider crab (タカアシガニ taka-ashi-gani, "long-legged crab") has the largest leg span of any arthropod, with some specimen reaching 3.8 metres across their outstretched legs. In order to reach such a size, the crabs need to moult frequently. They are native to the waters around Japan.
More info: Japanese Spider Crab
Below another video of a spider crab moulting, this time at the Enoshima Aquarium:
Photos:
A smaller specimen we saw at the Kaiyukan in Osaka.
